I have a bad chicken poop problem. Can chickens be toilet trained?

[smallbluejellybean]

Hi, I know it's a really silly question and I don't think chickens can be trained, but I do have a bad chicken poop problem.
During the day, I let my three 17 week old chickens out of their coop to free range my huge backyard. They have no interest free ranging at all and are more interested in sitting or knock on my backdoor and leave behind piles of poop. Now the knocking drives me nuts,but the poop is starting to make its way into the house, courtesy of my family of 4 stomping through.
I can not put a fence and gate up, because my little dogs kennel is right next to the backdoor and there is no where else sheltered enough to put it. She needs to be able to go down the stairs and do her business on the lawn. If I lock her in and the chickens out I will just end up with more poop, but just a different variety.
I've shoe them away every time and have even hosed them, but they do not get the message.
Has any one out there BYC land got any idea's I may try to get them to understand that the backdoor area is forbidden ground and off limits to them?

 

[appps]

Toughie. I keep mine away with a bit of knee high plastic mesh/wire. I wonder if you could do something similar but include a little doggie flap so she could push her way in and out of the closed in area. I don't think a chook would work that out but you should be able to train the dog to.

 

[smallbluejellybean]

appps it's a great idea, but my little darling dog is very old and has arthritis. She is also scared of doggie flaps, as I tried with her with one in the past on her kennel to keep her warm in winter. I had to use a little door on hinges, she just pushes the door open and then walks out. I really wish I knew what deters chickens.

 

[smallbluejellybean]

Has anyone tried those croaking frog statues that have sensors and if so do they work or do the chickens just work it out?

 

[Alicia Manolas]

Hi, I know it's a really silly question and I don't think chickens can be trained, but I do have a bad chicken poop problem.
During the day, I let my three 17 week old chickens out of their coop to free range my huge backyard. They have no interest free ranging at all and are more interested in sitting or knock on my backdoor and leave behind piles of poop. Now the knocking drives me nuts,but the poop is starting to make its way into the house, courtesy of my family of 4 stomping through.
I can not put a fence and gate up, because my little dogs kennel is right next to the backdoor and there is no where else sheltered enough to put it. She needs to be able to go down the stairs and do her business on the lawn. If I lock her in and the chickens out I will just end up with more poop, but just a different variety.
I've shoe them away every time and have even hosed them, but they do not get the message.
Has any one out there BYC land got any idea's I may try to get them to understand that the backdoor area is forbidden ground and off limits to them?

A squirty bottle of power, stomp on the area you have "claimed" just like an aggressive rooster does marking out territory, and squirt water infront of anyone who comes close. They learn the invisible line fast.

Or toilet just toilet train them like you would a puppy or kitten but with more rewards (treats) and 'punishments' (*you growling at them, worst case tail squirty bottle after warming growl) Yes they are smart enough.

 

[peyton233]

A squirty bottle of power, stomp on the area you have "claimed" just like an aggressive rooster does marking out territory, and squirt water infront of anyone who comes close. They learn the invisible line fast.

Or toilet just toilet train them like you would a puppy or kitten but with more rewards (treats) and 'punishments' (*you growling at them, worst case tail squirty bottle after warming growl) Yes they are smart enough.

I agree- a good spray bottle and a lot of yelling/clapping/stomping has my chickens pretty well trained to stay off the paved area at my house! It takes a lot of consistency and time (in my experience at least), but they eventually caught on. I also always keep a watering can right by my hose so that when I notice a mess I can rinse it away really quick before it hardens, since my hose doesn't reach all of the paved areas.